Jan. 30, 2010
Here are some of the promising books I’ve been editing lately:
•Isabella Propeller by John Aldridge. An intriguing little story (with a playful name!) based on the legend of the Blowing Rock in North Carolina. An inquisitive little girl, a vintage beanie found in grandmother’s attic, a magical red feather—and Wind Keeper, the mysterious mountain woman of the winds. Who could ask for more?
•Nothing But the Ordinary by Bobby Thomas. The debut YA novel by an Alabama youth minister with a yen for storytelling. In the book, Ethan Thomas gets his wish for something extraordinary to happen at boring ol’ General High. To his shock, however, he discovers that a mysterious villain is planning to destroy the school! If only there were something special about him like incredible strength or speed. Instead, Ethan discovers four students who do have super powers but do not want to use them—or don’t know even know how. But what part will Ethan play in all this?
•Big Box, Little Box by Kathy Nash and Damien Nash. The spiritual story of one little box that is lost in a mail sorting center, and the big box that shows him the way. This inspiring book, which is also formatted as a DVD, entertains young readers while helping them avoid negative labels and realize their potential. This book makes its debut February 6 in Atlanta. ISBN# 978-0-9841729-3-1
• Music Beach by C.E. Walz. A charming picture book in rhyme by the author of Mary’s Treasure Box (Tommy Nelson, 1998) and Alley Loo: A Spooky Swamp Tale (Dragonfly Publishing, 2009). Geared to kids ages 3-8, Music Beach is the story of what happens at night, along the seaside, when the sun goes down.
“When the sun goes down and palm trees sway,
Come hear the sounds near Turtle Bay…
From the Sandcastles of yesterday,
We’re live from Music Beach!”
•Double Teamed by Dana Konop. A rollicking and yet poignant middle-reader for kids ages 8 and older that tells the story of a regular boy at a regular school who meets challenges that few of us have…and becomes a hero who changes his family’s life forever. Dana has won four awards in the Writers’ Digest Writer’s Competition for Children’s Fiction.
“Mom unleashes her parent eye on Dad and me. I squirm to keep her from melting my flesh with that. Dad finishes picking the dirt out from under his fingernails. He stands up and nods with his eyebrows raised at me, and I know exactly what he means by that.”
Thanks for the shout out Peggy! Telling stories is awesome, but it is even better having the critique of an expert.
I highly recommend Wren Cottage’s Peggy Shaw! Not only is she professional and personable but very much the educator with a keen sense of what makes a great story.